To ask Her Majesty's Government why the agreement at Hillsborough Castle increased the annual Northern Ireland legal aid budget final allocation from £80 million in 2008–09 to £100 million this year; and why there has been a one-off allocation over the next two years of a further £12 million. [HL2425]

The Prime Minister's letter of 21 October 2009 made adjustments to the legal aid baseline. The settlement adjusted the baseline from £65 million to £85 million for 2009-10 to 2012-13. The baseline was then reduced to £79 million to take account of the effect of efficiency savings. Additional funding of up to £39 million was also made available to meet any shortfall in legal aid funding above baselines until planned efficiencies take effect and to cover other Court Service pressures. £17 million of the additional funding was accessed in 2009-10 to cover the shortfall in legal aid required above the revised baseline.